Tampa Catholic QB Christian Green headed for Disney Gridiron Kings

When Tampa Catholic quarterback Christian Green got the invitation to take part in the Gridiron Kings event at Disney's Wide World of Sports, he went to his coach with a question.

"Do you think I should go?" Green asked.

Bob Henriquez was amused.

"Well, let's see, you've been picked to compete with the top 64 players in the country," the TC coach said with a straight face. "Yeah, maybe you should check it." Unlike his coach, Green wasn't being sarcastic. Just his normal, humble self. It's part of the package that wraps the 25th-ranked player in The Sentinel's top 100 , and one of the reasons Florida, Florida State and Georgia are hot for this grounded by oh-so-talented kid who projects as a wide receiver at the next level.

At the Gridiron Kings, set for July 23-25, Green will line up against the nation's top skill-positions prospects in the Class of 2010 and take part in a series of position-specific challenges as well as a 7-on-7 competition.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Green is not to be confused with his 6-6, 287-pound teammate with the same last name. That would be Chaz Green, who comes in at No. 17 in Sentinel rankings, and who along with Christian have made things very busy at TC the last several months. In fact, the attention on the dynamic duo has been so intense that both players hope to make their respective college of choice before the '09 season, as the Crusaders look to improve on last year's 9-3 season that ended with a tough two-point loss to Miami Gulliver Prep in the Class 2A state semifinals.

"Both want to enjoy their senior seasons and focus on academics," Henriquez said.

Christian Green, who accounted for 1,931 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns last season, is the cousin of former Florida State receiver E.G. Green. He made an unofficial visit to Tallahassee last week week and was promptly "bombarded," according to Henriquez, with follow-ups from Gainesville on the way home. He has other family connections to another state school, though. Hiram Green, an uncle, played basketball at South Florida in the '70s and now works at USF. The Bulls are believed to still be in the picture for Green  slightly  because of their proximity to home and their preference to leave him at quarterback in the spread offense.

Whatever throwing skills Green has (he completed 65 percent of his passes in '08 for 1,275 yards, 14 TDs and four interceptions last season) will be on display at Wide World of Sports next week.

Chaz Green, who transferred from Palm Harbor University High before his '08 junior season, has put on nearly 40 pounds during the last year and now ranks as the No. 3 offensive line prospect in the state, according to The Sentinel. Florida, USC and Georgia are believed to currently top his list.